The morning dawned bright. Ford woke up happy at his old flat. The boys still hadn’t found a tenant for his room and probably never would, considering Ford had paid his portion of the lease until the end of the leasing period and also paid theirs off for the entire year. Oh, they’d been ecstatic about that, and really grateful, so he hadn’t minded a bit when they told all their friends that having a rich English pilot friend rocked.
Today, he’d be getting engaged. He prayed so. And tonight, if the universe was on his side, he’d be getting married. Rupert, Anne, and his parents were on their way. Rupert promised to be on his best behavior, but if he wasn’t, Ford refused to let his brother’s choices affect him. He also asked his parents and Anne to avoid stressing about Rupert. He wanted them to enjoy his big day. He couldn’t wait for them to meet Greer.
His newfound clarity had yet to abandon him. There was a chance Greer would think him arrogant or presumptuous to propose. She might send him on his way. If that happened, he would be wretched. He would put up a huge fight. But in the end, if she said no to his proposal, he would also be able to look back and say that he’d tried his very best. He’d walk around England a broken-hearted man who went for it, which was better than merely being broken-hearted, wasn’t it?
He hadn’t been able to connect with Greer’s dad until that morning. He’d explained everything, and her father gave his permission for him to ask for her hand in marriage. Mr. Jones would make sure Greer was at the French crêpe place for lunch, which was right around the corner from the College of Charleston’s Randolph Hall, where Ford had first met her at the auction. After lunch, Mr. Jones would get Greer to Randolph Hall’s main gathering space, presumably on a rambling walk. Ford would be waiting there to propose.
Everyone else was at battle stations, preparing. The four other contest finalists, including Serena—who agreed to come if Wesley wasn’t there—were bridesmaids. The ladies of Two Love Lane would share the role of maid of honor. They had called Greer’s friends the night before, and a good many of them from Waterloo, college, and grad school were actually flying or driving in that day for the surprise event. And of course, many locals were invited as well. Ford had purchased a big block of rooms at the Omni Hotel on Market and East Bay for them to walk right into, gratis.
The moment of the proposal was at hand.
And Greer wasn’t there.
He waited for forty-five minutes. The sapphire-and-diamond ring, which his mother had given him—a gift from her grandmother—was, of course, burning a veritable hole in his pocket. He texted Mr. Jones. But he got no answer. What to do?
He called Anne. “She’s not coming,” he said. “I have no idea where she is. Her father isn’t answering his texts.”
“Oh, dear,” she said. “When’s the wedding?”
“Four-and-a-half hours.”
“And she doesn’t know it’s happening. Nor that you’re in America and about to propose.”
“No. She knows none of that.”
Anne sighed. “Is there the slightest possibility that she does know—and she’s trying to let you down easily? Maybe her mother spilled the beans.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “Only a sister could offer such a horrible scenario so blithely and get away with it. I’ve already been left once at the altar. Can lightning strike twice?”
“I have no idea,” said Anne. “Maybe we should Google that.”
“Should I stay here much longer?” he asked.
“I don’t think so,” she said. “Give it another twenty minutes, and if they don’t show, you’ll go to Plan B.”
“What’s Plan B?”
“You’ll have to figure that out in the next twenty minutes.”
“Have you been drinking?”
“My little brother’s getting married today. What do you think? The key lime margaritas at the hotel bar are divine.”
He offered a few rich words of which his mother would disapprove.
“You know I’ll be there if you need me,” said Anne. “Stay calm. I believe in Greer.”
“You haven’t even met her,” he said.
“But you love her. So I know I will, too.”
Twenty minutes later, he left Randolph Hall, despondent. Panicked. Still no answer from Greer’s father.
He was wandering lonely as a cloud—let him indulge in Wordsworth on the most romantic and wretched day of his life!—down King Street when he got a call from an unknown number.
“Ford? This is Patricia. Greer’s mother.”
“Patricia?” He stood stock still. “Where are you? You didn’t come to Randolph Hall. Is everything all right?”
“It’s fine, dear, but—”
“But what?”
“We’re in Columbia. Columbia, South Carolina. It’s the state capital, about two hours out of Charleston.”
“Yes, yes, I know.”
“My husband’s phone died. I left mine at the apartment by accident, so I had to borrow this one from a woman we just met in a diner. Greer is talking to the line cooks and telling them how good their fried chicken is. She has no idea what’s going on, if that’s any reassurance.”
“That’s good news,” he said, as relief poured through him. “What happened?”
“It’s a long story, and I don’t have time to tell you. She’s coming. She can’t see me on this phone. We’ll be back in Charleston by five. She thinks our flight departs at eight o’clock.”
“The wedding’s at six.”
“Okay.”
“I still haven’t proposed, Patricia. I can’t do that via text. Or a phone conversation. It wouldn’t be right.”
But there was a click. She’d hung up.
* * *
Greer’s father had never seen a gorilla. He’d told her that morning over a French toast breakfast she’d whipped up. He’d wanted to see one his entire life, he’d said. Greer’s mother had laughed and said, “That’s cute.” And she’d looked at Greer’s father shyly, the way a girl with a crush looks at the guy she likes.
Greer had never seen that happen.
And so that adorable exchange between her parents about the gorilla stuck with her all through their boat tour to Fort Sumter. She wondered if sleeping in her very pink bedroom had had anything to do with it! Maybe it was merely getting away from the farm?
No, it had to have been the pink boudoir!
Or had she imagined their sweetness to each other?
They finished the Fort Sumter tour at about eleven thirty.
“Dad.” She was so excited, she couldn’t stand it. “We’re going to Columbia today. Their zoo has gorillas. You’re finally going to see one.”
He was silent for a moment. And then he said, “Aw, no, honey. This is your day to show us the city you love.”
“Dad,” she said. “I’d be much happier showing you a real gorilla. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“Well, when would we be back, honey?” her mom asked. “I want to have dinner in Charleston before our flight leaves.”
“We can make it back by five,” Greer said. “We’ll go to the zoo and have lunch. There’s a place I read about in Columbia that has the best fried chicken in the world. It’s only a two-hour trip up there.”
“I don’t know,” her father said. “I think it’s a bad idea.”
“Why?” Greer asked him.
“Because,” he said.
But he never articulated a good answer. It was so obvious he wanted to go!
“We’re going,” Greer told him. “Think of all the talking we can do on the way up. I promise I’ll get us back by five.”
And that was that. They had a wonderful day. Her dad’s reaction to the gorillas was priceless. He was like a kid. And her mother enjoyed seeing him that way as much as Greer did. Her whole demeanor was lighter. Playful.
But by the time Greer drove them back to Charleston, she was hot, sweaty, and exhausted.
“I can’t believe you have to leave in a few hours,” she said.
“It’s a bummer,” said her father. “But we sure have loved being with you. I wish we lived closer.”
That admission broke her heart. “I hope we can do this again soon,” Greer said over the lump in her throat. “I miss you two so much.”
They offered her soothing words, the kind sweet parents do, but Greer felt alone when they got out at Baker House. They’d go upstairs and pack. After that, they’d stow the luggage in her car and grab a quick dinner at the crêpe place, where they’d originally planned to eat lunch, and then they had to be at the airport by six thirty or so.
After she dropped them off in the terminal, she’d head back to her apartment. And she knew all she would do once she got there was water Fern, change the bed sheets, wash the towels, straighten the kitchen, and miss her parents and Ford.
He’d left a permanent ache in her heart.
* * *
The dread of her parents’ departure kept building in Greer’s chest. At the crêpe place, her father was very annoyed that his phone was dead again. Something had to have gone wrong with the battery.
“Or maybe it happened when you accidentally dropped it in the sink last night,” said her mother.
“It barely got wet,” he said. “But who knows?”
Greer’s mother took out her phone. “Do you two mind if I make a call outside to the Ladies’ Auxiliary at church? I have to miss a meeting tonight, and I forgot to tell them.”
“Sure, Mom,” Greer said.
A minute later her mom came back inside. She looked a little worried.
“Is everything okay?” Greer asked her.
“Yes,” her mother said, but she didn’t elaborate. Greer’s father, too, seemed more somber. Of course, they were all worried about parting from each other.
They finished their crêpes nearly in silence.
Greer sighed. “We might as well head to the airport,” she said.
“But it’s only 5:30.” Her father looked even more grim.
“It’s actually 5:45,” Greer’s mother said. “That clock on the wall is wrong.”
Greer laughed. “It’s said 5:30 for as long as I can remember. Shall we?” She stood.
“No,” said her mother. “No.”
“But, Mom—”
At that moment Ford threw open the door and walked in. Greer almost fainted at the sight of him.
“Thank God I’ve found you!” he cried. He was in a long black tailcoat and wore a white bow tie against a crisply starched white shirt.
“Ford,” she said, barely able to speak.
“It’s been a great day,” her mother said. “We had a marvelous time in Columbia. First, we saw the—”
“Mom,” Greer said.
“It’s perfectly all right,” Ford said, and bowed before his mother. “Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Jones. You’re absolutely lovely.” He took her hand and kissed it, then he turned to her father and stuck out his hand. “Nice to meet you, as well,” he said in that hail-fellow-well-met way men did.
“And you,” said her father, pumping his hand.
“Wait,” Greer said. “I haven’t introduced anyone. And how did you know we were here, Ford? Why are you here? I thought you were in England!” She put a hand to her forehead. Was she dreaming? Was this really happening?
Ford was back in Charleston!
And he was dressed like a baron, a far cry from the man in the gray plaid blazer and boat shoes.
“No time for proper introductions, darling,” Ford said. “The portrait,” he called out, sounding like a baron.
The owner of the restaurant came striding over, the most stunning nude portrait Greer had ever seen in his hands.
“What—” she stammered. Her eyes immediately filled with tears.
“It’s you,” her mother whispered. “It’s beautiful.” She took her husband’s hand.
“My goodness,” Greer’s father said gruffly. “You’re a real artist,” he said to Ford.
“Thank you,” Ford said, then turned to Greer. “It is you. It’s really you.”
“I love it,” Greer said, wiping tears away. “It’s so different from the other—”
“Because the other was painted when I still couldn’t see,” said Ford. “When I got back to England, I realized that you mean more to me than anyone or anything in the world. I will never, ever put you anywhere but first in my life again.”
He got on one knee and paused a beat.
Greer’s hands were shaking. Her heart raced. She could barely breathe.
“Greer,” her favorite Englishman said carefully, slowly, “I love you with all my heart. Will you do me the great honor of being my bride? Can you possibly have me when the future is so uncertain?”
She knew he was talking about the babies, about his possibly being a father.
Everyone in the restaurant stopped talking. Her mother had her hand to her mouth. She was smiling. Or crying. Maybe both. Greer’s father looked well pleased. Had they known this was coming?
“Greer?” Ford looked up at her with those beloved blue eyes and she remembered the auction, how she’d almost tried to coerce him into bidding on Royal Bliss with her. “What do you say, my love?”
She sank onto his thigh, remembering the first time she’d met him—his thigh was her favorite place in the world to sit—and put her arm around his neck. “I say yes, Ford. I will marry you. I love you with all my heart, too. And I will love everything and everyone you’ll bring into my life.”
“My dear, dear Greer,” he said, his voice cracking. He put the most splendiferous ring on her left ring finger. “You’ve made me the happiest of men.”
They stared into each other’s eyes a moment—dumbstruck, the both of them, by the power of love to connect and make whole—and she leaned in for a prolonged kiss of celebration.
But he merely gave her a peck and hoisted her to her feet. “We’ll have to save the kiss for after the vows, darling.” He paused. “How do you feel about getting married right this minute?”
Her mother looked at her phone. “In ten minutes, actually.”
Greer was in a daze. “What’s going on? How can that happen?”
Ford winced. “I know it’s little notice. I was hoping to propose today at lunch, but you had a change in plans. No pressure, but a great deal of your friends and family, both local and out-of-state, and most of my family from England, are waiting, along with a minister, to witness our vows—if you’re interested. We can always put them off. Take as long as you want to decide: months, years. I’ll be waiting. I simply wanted you know that I would marry you yesterday if I could, and today, if I can.”
Greer stared at her parents. “You knew?”
They both nodded, their eyes alight with love, concern, and hope.
“But I’m very glad I got to see those gorillas,” her father said.
Greer laughed.
“Honey, only if you’re ready,” her mother added. “And we’re not going home tonight. We’re staying until tomorrow.”
Greer gave a little sob and hugged her mother. Rather, she let herself be hugged. It was good to rest there a moment in her mother’s arms, to think about what was really happening. This scenario was nothing like the Perfect Wedding she’d always imagined. She hadn’t been consulted on the food or flowers or the venue.
She could say no, if she wanted to. She had that option.
But she realized then, as her mother held her, how little all those trappings she’d so focused on in her scrapbooks meant in the big scheme of things. What mattered was the who and the why—not the what.
And just like that, the four other finalists in the contest came running through the restaurant doors with Royal Bliss. All of them wore gold-colored dresses. Once again, she was in shock—to see them, and to see Royal Bliss. Lisa also carried a tux, which she handed to Greer’s father, and a beautiful pink dress, which she gave to Greer’s mother.
“What do you say, Greer?” Serena asked her. “Should we try to restore good memories to Royal Bliss? The rest of us have made a vow to wear it to our own weddings. Even Lisa. Pierre suggested if she goes before any of us and has to size it down, she can at least cut out the special beaded bodice when she’s through, and we can sew it into a new gown. Those beads are what we’re all after, anyway.”
“Pierre?” Greer couldn’t believe they’d been talking to him.
“Ford has tamed him,” Toni said. “Long story. But a good one.”
Greer took a deep breath. “You all are wonderful to be here. Serena, you came from so far!”
“I did,” she said, “because I think you and Ford are so good together. I had to be here.” She kissed Greer’s cheek. “I’m even going to have lunch with Wesley tomorrow.”
“Oh, I’m so glad!” Greer said, and clung to her hand.
But Ford intervened. “Sorry, ladies, but time is passing. Greer, should we delay the nuptials? Or would you like to wear Royal Bliss and get married in the garden at Two Love Lane, in, oh, about six minutes?”
Greer’s phone kept ringing. It was Macy. “I have to get this,” she said, her voice trembling.
“Are you coming?” Macy asked.
“Yes,” Greer said, her eyes filled with tears. “You’re at Two Love Lane?”
“Yes, and you wouldn’t believe how gorgeous the back garden looks. I can’t wait for you to see it.” She paused. “She’s coming!” she called out to someone. There was a round of cheering.
Greer giggled. She actually giggled. Just like Macy had when she was first in love.
It was all so surreal.
“I’ve got something borrowed for you,” Macy said. “My pearls that I wore to my own wedding, a gift from my mother. Ella’s got something blue—a garter from Jill’s collection of sexy stuff. By the way, Jill’s here, too, with her new man.”
“Really?”
“Yes, and Miss Thing has something old she and Pete decided on together—his late wife’s wedding veil. It’s stunning.”
“Oh,” Greer said, choking up.
“I know,” said Macy. “Pete’s so crazy about you. And very proud to offer the veil. Your engagement ring is something new. It’s gorgeous, isn’t it? Poor Ford. He’s been looking for you all day so he could put it on your finger. We love him, Greer.”
“I do, too,” said Greer, overwhelmed but so happy. “Let me get my gown on first. I’ll be right there.”
“Get out, everybody,” the restaurant owner told the other customers. “Your food is on the house. No way is a bride dressing in my cramped little bathroom. She’ll dress out here where she has space for this gorgeous dress to shine.”
So that was what Greer did. She donned Royal Bliss in the crêpe restaurant. But Ford had to leave first. He wasn’t permitted to see her in it before the wedding.
“I’ll see you there,” he said at the door. And then he strode back in, his coattails fluttering, and kissed her properly. “My love,” he added, and left her to be adorned as a bride.